REPORTED SPEECH

Reported Speech

Prof. Cecilia Amoretti

Index

1. General Information

8. Questions

2. Say - Tell

9. Commands, Requests and Suggestions

3. Out-of-date reporting

10. Reporting Verbs

4. Changes in time expressions

11. Up-to-date reporting

5. Other changes

12. Practice

6. Modal Verbs

7. Conditionals

General Information

"I'm very satisfied with the results of the simulation," the supervisor said.

• We can report people's words by using direct speech or reported speech.
• Direct speech are the exact words someone used. We use quotation marks (" "):

"I'm very satisfied with the results of the simulation," the supervisor said.

• Reported speech is the exact meaning of what someone said, but not the exact words:

The supervisor said (that) he was very satisfied with the results of the simulation.

• Being able to relay information or report what someone has said is an important part of aviation communications. It may become very important in emergencies or when handling incidents and other non-routine events.

Say - Tell

• Tell is always followed by a personal object (told me, him, her, us, you, them).
• Say is used with or without a personal object. When used with a personal object it is always followed by the preposition to (said to me).

REPORTED SPEECH

• He said (that) he was the new supervisor.
• He said to me (that) he was the new supervisor.
• He told me (that) he was the new supervisor.

DIRECT SPEECH

• He said, "I'm the new supervisor."
• He said to me, "I'm the new supervisor."
• He told me, "I'm the new supervisor."

Out-of-date Reporting

He said he wanted to contact his company urgently.

The reporting verb is in the past.

This is when we report what someone has said in the past.

Verb tenses move back (backshift).

There are further changes in: personal pronouns, possessive adjectives and pronouns, time expressions, demonstratives.

Reported Speech

Direct Speech

• Simple Present

"I need to contact my company urgently," she said.

• Present Continuous

"I'm proceeding visually," he said.

• Present Perfect

"I've forgotten to issued the latest ATIS," he said.

• Simple Past

She said (that) she needed to contact her company urgently.

• Past Continuous

He said he was proceeding visually.

• Past Perfect

He said (that) he had forgotten to issue the latest ATIS.

VS

Reported Speech

Direct Speech

• Simple Past

"I finished work early," she said.

• Past Continuous

"I was planning to call him later," he said.

• Future (will)

"I will need your assistance," he said.

• Simple Past or Past Perfect

She said she (had) finished work early.

• Past Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous

He said he was / had been planning to call him later.

• Conditional (would)

He said (that) he would need his assistance.

VS

The Past Perfect and the Past Perfect Continuous remain the same.

• Direct Speech: "They had already landed safely by the time the emergency services arrived," he said.
• Reported Speech: He said (that) they had already landed safely by the time the emergency services arrived.

Changes in time expressions

Time expressions change according to the meaning of the sentences as follows:

• last week: the week before, the previous week
• next week: the week after, the following week
• two days ago: two days before
• this week: that week

• now: then, at that time, immediately.
• today, tonight: that day, that night.
• yesterday: the day before, the previous day
• tomorrow: the next day, the following day

Other changes

• Verbs: come go bring take
• Place: this place that place here there
• When this / that / these / those are not used in time expressions, they change as follows:
• as adjectives the
• as pronouns it or they/them

Modal Verbs

Certain modal verbs change in reported speech as follows:

• will/shall would
• may might
• can could / would be able to (future reference)
• must must (logical assumption) / had to (obligation)
• shall should (asking for advice)

Would, could, might, should, ought, had better and mustn't do not change in reported speech.

Reported Speech

Direct Speech

• He said (that) he would have some tea.
• He said she could type fast.

• He said he could / would be able to talk to me later.
• He said they might come home.

• He said, "I'll have some tea."
• He said, "She can type fast."
• He said, "I can talk to you later."

• He said, "They may come home."

VS

Reported Speech

Direct Speech

• He asked what he should tell her.
• He said I must/had to stay in.

• He said she must be exhausted.

• He said, "What shall I tell her?"
• He said, "You must stay in."
• He said, "You must be exhausted."

VS

Let's watch the following video to review:

Conditionals

Reporting Conditional Sentences.

Type 1 Conditionals: tense backshift occurs.

Types 2 and 3 do not change in Reported Speech.

Questions

Reported questions are usually introduced with the verbs ask, inquire, wonder or the expression want to know.

Characteristics of Reported Questions:

Reported wh-questions are reported with the same wh-word in the direct question .

Reported yes/no questions begin with if or whether.

Reported questions have sentence word order. The question mark and words such as please, well, etc., are omitted. Changes occur as in statements.

Commands, Requests and Suggestions

To report commands or instructions, we use the introductory verbs order or tell smn (not) to-infinitive.

• "Hold short of Romeo until advised."

He told us to hold short of Romeo until advised.

• "Don't look down!"

She told them not to look down.

• "Abort takeoff!"

The controller ordered him to abort takeoff.

To report suggestions, we use the introductory verb suggest + -ing / that smn (should) + bare infinitive.

• "Shall I inform your company about the delay and your communications issues?"

The controller suggested informing the company about the delay and our communications issues.

• "Why don't we swap weekend shifts this week?"

He suggested swapping / that we (should) swap weekend shifts this week.

To report requests, we use the introductory verb ask smn (not) to-infinitive.

• "Transair 44, I have an aircraft behind you with medical priority. For sequencing, increase speed."

The controller asked the pilot to increase speed.

• "Don't call the emergency services. That won't be necessary."

The pilot asked the controller not to call the emergency services.

Let's watch the following video to review:

10

Reporting Verbs

Examples

In this link you will learn how to use some reporting verbs.

11

Cases in which verb tenses remain the same.

• Up-to-date reporting: When we report someone's words a short time after they were said, tenses can either change or remain the same.

"I'm seeing the manager tomorrow." He told us (that) he is/was seeing the manager tomorrow.

• When reporting a general truth or law of nature: tenses can either change or remain the same.

"The sun sets in the west." The teacher said (that) the sun sets/set in the west.

• Verb tenses remain the same in Reported Speech: When the introductory verb is in the present, present perfect or future.

"I enjoy working night shifts," she says. She says she enjoys working night shifts.

12

Links to continue learning and practising.

Thanks!